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Planning Permission 2020-02-13T12:26:56+00:00

Planning Permission Architects at your convenience

Here you’ll find everything you need to know about the process of obtaining planning permission. Regardless of your level of prior knowledge, this section is a great way to find out either the basics, or delve into more detailed aspects of the planning procedure. Right from the get go, you’ve got to work out whether you actually need planning permission to go ahead with your extension or renovation, or whether permitted development rights will cover your project. If you have no idea, then don’t worry – this information can be easily found in our blogs. If you don’t need planning permission and are eligible for permitted development rights, we still advise you get a lawful development certificate for your upcoming build. From here, we take you through both what happens during the planning process, and the steps you need to take afterwards. In the fairly unlikely case that your planning permission is refused, our blogs (and our architects!) can help you adjust your application in order to be more successful the next time. Luckily for the homeowner, being refused previously does not affect your current application… yay! Our blogs are able to guide you through every step in order to ensure that your planning process is carried out as smoothly as possible.

Planning Permission in your Local Borough

A7’s complete range of planning permission services include:

  • Architectural Planning Drawings

  • Planning Permission Applications for all Household Projects

  • Planning Permission Applications For Change Of Use

  • Planning Permission Applications For Converting House To Flats

  • 2D & 3D Elevations and Rendering

  • Structural Drawings & Floors Plans

  • Planning Appeals & Retrospective Planning Applications

How to improve your chances of a successful planning application

You can always do extra to make sure your project gets off to the best shot at a planning permission successful application.

Preliminary Application

Don’t be afraid to start talking to your local authority sooner rather than later. Councils offer Preliminary application advice, letting you talk to them about your proposed project and to get an understanding of what you can or can’t do with your property. Taking advantage of this early conversation is crucial if you want to save yourself some time and money in the future. By knowing the boundaries, you can get your design on the right track from the start and save you paying for revisions later.

Talk to your neighbours

Whether you like your neighbours or not, they can sometimes mean the difference between a rejection or approval of a project. Starting off, it’s always good to chat with those either side of your house. It is a no brainer that semi detached means half of the potential problems.  Not only does this give them a heads up – no one likes hearing things second hand through a letter – but it also allows you to pick their brains. Maybe someone else has built something similar? This will be a great indication of what the council is willing to approve for planning. Your neighbours may even be nice enough to share their thoughts on professionals they used and give budget advice.

How much value does planning approval add to your house?

Short answer yes.

Adding planning permission to your home will typically increase its market worth. However, how much value this equates to can depend on a number of things.

Such as…

  • Your property’s location
  • Extent of work covered in the permission
  • Whether your permission adds an extra bedroom
  • When your permission was obtained – it only lasts three years
  • Type of permission obtained

Homeowners in prime London locations could see as much as a 10% rise in their house price, while homes in other parts of the UK might see nothing more than an extra thousand in value.

It’s difficult for the industry to know how much planning permission adds on average, as for many homeowners, the goal to planning permission might be as simple as reaching the asking price. Perhaps even to just get close.

The only thing that can be said for certain, no house price has ever suffered due to added planning permission!

What happens after you’ve obtained planning permission?

Well in short. Now the build work can commence! Getting planning permission or a lawful development certificate can take between 8-10 weeks, so it’s good to apply early. However, once you know that your project is officially in the clear, there’s still one final stage before work can begin: the building regulation process.

During this phase, your architect will draw detailed designs along with construction notes ensuring the designs follow building regulations. You’ll also need to hire a structural engineer, a CCTV surveyor and an approved inspector.

Here are the answers to a few of the most commonly asked questions about this stage of your project…

Frequently Submitted Plan types sent over to the Planning Portal

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